Masai Beaded Wire Bracelets - Set of 6

From the village of Usa River near the city of Arusha in north-central Tanzania, Gertrude Protas Kitia uses the ancient art of Masai beadwork in both traditional and contemporary designs and techniques. Gertrude designs these lightweight wire bracelets using traditional Masai patterns. Each of the six bangles features a sturdy and lightweight wire core with porcelain and glass beads for a generous splash of color. These unique bracelets uplift your spirits while uplifting Gertrude and the women she supports!

Created to help women worldwide gain economic security for themselves and their families by earning fair wages for their handiwork, Global Girlfriend sources women-made, fair-trade imported, eco-friendly products. By supporting long-term partnerships with the artisans, it fosters equal employment opportunities, healthy and safe working conditions, technical assistance, and development strategies to help reduce poverty, one community at a time. Become a "Global Girlfriend" and help build a brighter future for girlfriends around the globe!

Recent reviews:

April 2, 2014 -
Easy to wear. Light weight and nice bright colors.

September 26, 2013 -
i love these bracelets! they are very easy to wear with almost anything, and give a very special touch. I have mine still tied together and lots of people asked me where I got them or if I made them, I say greater good!

Artisan: Gertrude Kitia

Handicrafts have been Gertrude Kitia's passion for as long as she can remember. This interest, coupled with a strong determination to help struggling women survive, led Gerturde to teach ancient Masai beading techniques to local women in Tanzania. Eventually, Gertrude formed a women's cooperative with the aim of helping women in her community who needed employment.

Despite the challenges of its remote location, limited transportation and non-existent government aid, the cooperative has managed to thrive because of Gertrude's tenacity. She not only provides women with trade skills and technique, she also promises fair wages and working conditions for the women, a situation which is fairly uncommon in Tanzania. The cooperative is also environmentally-focused and uses recycled and natural resources in all of their designs. Gertrude's cooperative not only provides a better living for women through sales of their designs, it has also successfully preserved traditional beading techniques and patterns of the Masai people.